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GATESVILLE – Sheriff Ray Campbell is expressing his concern over the growing number of incidents involving dirt bikes operating illegally on public roads in Gates County.

In a Facebook post he made Monday morning of this week on the Sheriff’s Office page, Campbell shared information regarding two recent accidents involving dirt bikes.

“In the first accident, the Gates County Sheriff’s Office was not notified until after the fact by an outside source, and in the second accident, the Sheriff’s Office responded,” Campbell said

He stated the second accident took place on Sunday, March 6 which resulted in the rider being transported to the hospital via Nightingale. Campbell added that the riders involved in both accidents were operating dirt bikes on the roadway and sustained serious injuries.

“With warm weather approaching, I understand the desire to ride dirt bikes and other ATVs; however, please remember that a dirt bike is designed from the ground up for one purpose, to be ridden on dirt, not on the roadway,” Campbell stressed.

“Gates County had experienced enough tragedy in our small community involving dirt bikes riding on the roadway; however, last night (Sunday, March 6) in the Sunbury/T.S. Cooper area, the Sheriff’s Office received more calls of the same,” Campbell continued. ‘If this nonsense continues, we could experience more tragedy.”

Sheriff Campbell encouraged parents to talk to their children about this serious matter.

“To the more experienced riders, you know better,” Campbell noted. “If anyone is unaware of the laws regarding riding dirt bikes and ATVs on the roadway, please call the Gates County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 357-0210, and we will be happy to help you.

“Please keep dirt bikes and ATVs off the roadway because it is illegal and extremely dangerous,” Campbell concluded.